Help! I've Got A Rotter Of An Is200!

[MGF Driver]

Hi there,

This is my first post so please excuse me if I'm in the wrong section, but I'm in dire need of some help regarding an 02 plate Lexus IS200.

Ih a nutshell, the car has become mine because I've bought it off my brother in law who's about to lose his house without a cash injection, so I've bought his Lexus with the intention of selling it on once the "couple of bits" have been sorted and now I'm regretting it. It's fully kitted out with the 18 inch wheels and bodykit so it (was) a really nice example. It needs some work doing and any advice you guys could help with would be appreciated. Lets start the list!:

1) Busted Drivers wing mirror - thought this would be an easy fix, and if it were the passenger side it seems it would be, but locating one seems to be nothing short of impossible. Is there any way I can buy the parts and strip the existing mirror to fit a new case? No problems spraying it as I'm pretty handy. Are pattern parts available? Is it possible to get a passenger side mirror from a vehicle in the US (at a guess I assume they all smash of the left hand one!).

2) Bonnet Catch Sticky - I haven't checked this yet and it might be a case of just blasting out the crud and oiling it up, but is there a known problem with the bonnet catches I should be aware of?

3) Servicing in Cambridgeshire - Is there a Lexus specialist in or around cambridge? I've seen the price of the service it's due and hit the floor! Dealer prices seem horrific!

4) Windscreen - Insurance company say that the screen is too expensive and I have to pay not only the excess (£100) but an additional £300 on top of that. Sounds like BS to me, can anyone advise what route to take?

There's a plethora of other things that need doing (tyres, brakes blah blah) but they are all easy enough for me. To be honest, pretty annoyed it's in such a state as I refuse to sell on a car thats shoddy, I wouldn't want an accident on my concience.

Thanks in advance for any help you people can give - I'd seriously really appreciate it. Pretty annoyed as I've done this to stop him losing his house and I've ended up with a heap :tsktsk:

[aztecbandit1]

Hello matey welcome to the club :D

I've just had a new windscreen fitted to my IS200 Sport through my insurance for £50 (excess) but i did get a couple of quotes from autoglass and RAC windcreens both at around the £180 mark so someone is talking a bit of bully? ;)

A couple of the members on the site are breaking is200/Altezza's at the moment if you look in the buy and sell section for the wing mirror?

Not sure on the servicing in Cambridge(sorry)

And the bonnet catch might just need a good clean and lubricating :)

:D

[MGF Driver]

I've just had a new windscreen fitted to my IS200 Sport through my insurance for £50 (excess) but i did get a couple of quotes from autoglass and RAC windcreens both at around the £180 mark so someone is talking a bit of bully?

Hi Mate,

Thanks for that, although I phoned Autoglass and they price they gave me was £596 including VAT!!!!! After picking myself up off the floor I figured I'd check some breakers yards. Do they ever come up?

I've managed to source an electric folding mirror for £50 which I was pleased with, now just need to find four straight 18" alloys.....

[Rabster]

I had my windscreen replaced end of last year at AUtoglass repair centre cost me £75

Although check to make sure they seal it properly or you get issues with the headlights staying on

Servicing to be honest do all the work that you know needs to be done or get it checked by a garage to tell you what needs doing and then get an interim service at lexus normally like 150 quid

[loggyboy]

It would be strange that the insurance company could demand more money. If you crashed they couldnt ask for more excess if the repairs were high, so they shouldnt be able to do it for a windscreen either..

[Rob]

the windscreen sounds like complete bull to me TBH, phone around some of the windscreen places and get a few prices and when they do it make 10000% that they make a good job of sealing it because it is quite normal after a screen has been replaced by autoglass etc etc that after heavy rain you start getting probs with theheadlights and fuse box in the RH footwell and that can be quite expensive!!

no known issues with the bonnet latch might just need cleaning and greasing and check the spring is attached properly.

[adrian71]

i had a new screen fitted after hitting a crow at 120mph (allegedly) and only had to pay the windscreen excess of £50, being from cambridge originally have you tried gowings for parts? www.gowing.co.uk. As for dealer prices on servicing i find them quite competitive and on several occasions i have rung around to get prices for various jobs and found them to be the cheapest, when last in cambridge i had an ignition coil pack up, rang for a price and was quoted £108 so ordered it, when i picked it up matey said he could do me a good price on it and let me have it for £72!!

[bridgerippa]

hi. maybe able to help with the alloys situation

check the buy and sell!! pics there now also.

[durg]

Regarding servicing near Cambridge I would recommend a garage called Wallis and Son in Barton, just outside Cambridge on the A603. They specialise in luxury brands but don't charge the earth. Really really good traditional family run garage (but with all the modern stuff to service the latest Lexus/BMW/Merc/etc...) and you get a free courtesy car. Not had mine serviced there yet (will do soon though) but they did a few fixes for me under warrantee and were brilliant. No messing - just got the job done. Give them a call perhaps for a quote?

[MGF Driver]

Regarding servicing near Cambridge I would recommend a garage called Wallis and Son in Barton, just outside Cambridge on the A603.

Ah I didn't think of them! They've always got prestige cars, and did you know the little shop there stocks Hershey's bars, yum!

With regard to the windscreen, I've phoned RAC Autowindscreens and they've qouted me £197 fitted for a non heated, and £248 for a heated, all inc vat and fitted, sounds better! Sounds like Autoglass just don't want the work or they were supplying OE Lexus glass.

Wingmirror on, being sprayed up next week and having the body damage sorted out! I'll post up some before and after pics when it's finished!

[Rob]

be aware that the "heated screen" is only a heating element for the wipers and is not like the ford system - but i would go with the heated

[sarah r]

Regarding servicing near Cambridge I would recommend a garage called Wallis and Son in Barton, just outside Cambridge on the A603.

Ah I didn't think of them! They've always got prestige cars, and did you know the little shop there stocks Hershey's bars, yum!

With regard to the windscreen, I've phoned RAC Autowindscreens and they've qouted me £197 fitted for a non heated, and £248 for a heated, all inc vat and fitted, sounds better! Sounds like Autoglass just don't want the work or they were supplying OE Lexus glass.

Wingmirror on, being sprayed up next week and having the body damage sorted out! I'll post up some before and after pics when it's finished!

i dont think either will fit oe glass, only main dealers fit this as i had mine done a while back, i wanted oe and autoglass didnt do it so told my insurance company and they said take it to main dealer. like for like so be carefull .autoglass tried to rip me off by asking for 300 quid off me extra,told my insurance company about this .

[durg]

Regarding servicing near Cambridge I would recommend a garage called Wallis and Son in Barton, just outside Cambridge on the A603.

Ah I didn't think of them! They've always got prestige cars, and did you know the little shop there stocks Hershey's bars, yum!

With regard to the windscreen, I've phoned RAC Autowindscreens and they've qouted me £197 fitted for a non heated, and £248 for a heated, all inc vat and fitted, sounds better! Sounds like Autoglass just don't want the work or they were supplying OE Lexus glass.

Wingmirror on, being sprayed up next week and having the body damage sorted out! I'll post up some before and after pics when it's finished!

They seem to sell everything in there!!

Do you do your own spraying or know a good place in Cambridge??